February, 1943
H
THE X I K O ’ I BUS I NE SS NOTES on Christian Endeavor
b\ Carnal displays of temper and retaliation are denied (v. 26b; cf, Matt. 5:10-12, 43-48; Rom. 12:17-21; Lk. 23:34). c. Anger of any kind cannot be permitted to linger long (v., 26b; cf. Psa. 141:3)., To permit anger to linger is to destroy fellowship with the Re deemer and “give place to the devil” (v. 27; cf. Jas. 4:7). 3. Stealing versus honest work (v. 28),, Here it is evident that laziness and idleness are included as stealing. The Bible usually condemns jnost that which is left undone when a man be comes God’s steward (cf. Matt. 25:1-30, esp, 25-29). The ideal life is suggested in Acts 20:28. 4. Corrupt speech v e r s u s good speech (v. 29; cf. 5:4). Filthy or idle speaking has no place in a committed life. This does not mean that the Bible condemns the-use of humor (cf. Prov. 17:22). . CONCLUSION (vs. 30-32). •1. The sealing of the Holy Spirit versus the grieving of the Holy Spirit (v. 3(5). Failure to manifest the practical aspects of commitment proves either (1) that we were never saved . and therefore “sealed,” or (2) if we were “sealed,” then we certainly Are griev ing the Holy Spirit. 2. The fruits of an unforgiving spirit versus the fruits of a forgiving spirit (vs. 31, 32). Illustration In legal procedure there is a law known as the law of “reserved right.” For instance, suppose I should sell ten thousand acres of land, and should retain one acre in the center. I would have a right to go over those 9;999 acres to get to mine. A committed life is said to be one which “gives no place to the devil.” When we reserve a room in our heart which belongs to Satan, he knows it and does not hesi tate to take his tight of way through the rest to get there. , MARCH 8, 1942 HOW TO WORSHIP IN PRIVATE M atthew 6 :5-8 ; J ohn ' 5 :39 B y Vivian R. Weld For Those Who Have Topics I. NECESSITY OF WORSHIP (John 4:24), Man is so constituted that he must worship some one or some thing. God who created us has every right to ask us to worship Him. Man becomes like that which he worships; thus he can not be truly satisfied by the worship of anything else than the worship of God. In the Word we read that God is love, peace, the believer’s-salvation,
The Writers
March 1—PAUL R. BAUMAN
Dr. Bauman is pastor of the Second Brethren Church, Los Angeles, Calif., and is Professor of Apologetics at the Bible. Institute of Los Angeles. Miss Weld attended Wheaton College, Wheaton, 111., after her grad uation from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in 1935, and in recent years has been active in Christian Endeavor work in Riverside and Orange Counties. - . *• As a member of the China Inland Missioh, Miss Miller (Biola ’32) has served for several years in the far northwest of China, where conditions of life peculiarly require of the Lord’s servants the ‘‘Chris tian discipline of life” she describes in the lesson assigned to her With her husband, Roy R. Kraft (Biola ’38) and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph W. Kraft, Mrs. Kraft (Jeannette Bushnell, ’38) has been engaged in evangelistic team activity that ha£ had a particular ministry to young people. Mr. Regier (Biola ’35),is pastor of the Immanuel Mennofiite Church, Los Angeles, Calif. Last year he was pastor counselor for the South ern Division Of the Los Angeles County Christian Endeavor Union.
March 8—VIVIAN H. WELD
March 15—WILDA A. MILLER
v this month. March 22—JEANNETTE B. KRAFT
March 29—WILBERT A. REGIER
MARCH 1, 1942 / , WHAT COMMITMENT TO
1. The “ old man”—the old carnal nature of the individual»—determined the “former manner of life” (v. 22, R. V.). . 2. The “old man” was corrupt be cause of many illegitimate and de ceitful desires. (Many illustrations.) H. THE POSITIVE ASPECT OF COM MITMENT (Eph. 4:23, 24). Commitment to Christ means the putting on of “the new man,” Why? 1. The “new man” has - a “new mind” (v. 23; cf. Rom. 12:2). 2. The “new man” is a creation “af ter God” (v. 24; cf. John 1:13; 3:3, 6). 3. The “new man” is a creation “in righteousness and true holiness” (v. 24; cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). Illus.: Just as a machine will not run right until it is made right, so a man will not live right (i. e.,: right eous and holy like God) until he is made right. III. THE PRACTICAL A S P ECT .OF COMMITMENT (Eph, 4:25-32), Contrasts between the fruits of an uncommitted and a committed life: 1. Lying versus the truth (v. 25; cf. 1 Cor, 12:12-14). 2. Sinful, temper versus righteous indignation (v. 26). a. Righteous “ anger” is permitted (v. ,26a; cf. John 2:13-17).
CHRIST MEANS E phesians 4:20-32 By Paul R. Bauman Introduction
Second only to the matter of an in dividual’s relation to Jesus Christ as his Saviour is his commitment to Jesus Christ as the Lord and the Mas ter of his life. The selection of the word “commit ment” h e r e is •highly appropriate. Commitment does not mean “surren der” or “yielding,” which would imply something one is forced to do when - A. he can do nothing else. One definition of commitment given is this: “to place in trust or custody,”, suggesting an o u t r i g h t- act of presentation. The thought is well illustrated in Romans 12:1: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice.” The commitment or pres entation here, as in Ephesians 4, is as sociated with a complete transforma tion (cf. Rom. 12:2). For Those Who Have Topics I. THE NEGATIVE ASPECT OF COM MITMENT (Eph. 4:22).. Commitment means the putting off of “the old man.” .Why?
Made with FlippingBook HTML5